Assistance Dogs International
Assistance Dogs International (ADI) is a worldwide coalition of non-profit organisations that train and place Assistance Dogs.
www.assistancedogsinternational.org
For enquiries please use link: assistancedogsinternational.org/forms/contact-us//
- We wish all our Members, Colleagues, Friends and Followers a very #HappyNewYear2026! We are looking forward to working with our amazing members in 2026, and continuing to support - and advocate for - the lifechanging impact of #assistancedogs across the world. #lifechangers
- We'd like to wish all our Members, Colleagues, Friends and Followers who are celebrating today, a very Happy Christmas! #assistancedogs #lifechangers
- Enjoying days out can be challenging for children with autism. Specially trained #assistancedogs can make a huge difference. Watch how Amelie's life changed when Paddy, trained by ADI member @DogsForGoodUK came to stay:
- 2 of our members, @Osmoseasbl & kutyavalegymosolyert.hu collaborated on an @EUErasmusPlus project designed to educate & raise awareness about how #assistancedogs support people with disabilities. assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/12/15/gen…
- We have a new Executive Director, David Locklin, who began his career over 25 years ago at @guidedogs and is now based in the USA. "I'm honored to join an organization that unites such dedicated, skilled, & passionate professionals" says David. We're honored to have you! Welcome!
- ADI welcomes our new Corporate Partner Dogvatar! Dogvatar uses an AI-powered trainer assistant "Simon" to improve outcomes, success rates, & welfare of working dogs & support trainers & puppy raisers with real-time personalized insights. See www.dogvatar.dog for more info!
- It's #internationaldogday! This is a great opportunity to say thank you to all the incredible dogs our members work so hard to train so that they can help people who need them. Our latest statistics show we have over 28,300 #assistancedog teams across the world. #lifechangers
- Want to know more about @adiintl and what we do? Listen to this great podcast with our ED Chris on www.petliferadio.com to find out how we started, created our standards, and grew to become the leading authority on #assistancedogs!
- It's important to train #assistancedogs for many different scenarios. Thanks to www.catc.cz who worked with our member helppes.cz to train their dogs in aircraft and emergency situations.
- Continuing our celebration of places that really welcome #assistancedogs this #internationalassistancedogweek, here’s Sue and James from www.caninepartners.org.uk. Thank you to the chemist in Cockermouth - you know who you are! #IADW2025 #Paws4Access
- We’ve been thanking those that give a warm welcome to #assistancedogs this #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek. Here’s Sandy from abilitycenter.org telling us the difference a dog makes when it comes to access. #lifechangers
- We’re off to Canada for our next thank you for pawsitive access, with Tim and Gage, trained by www.autismdogservices.ca. Huge thanks to royalcitynursery.com in Guelph for the outstanding welcome they gave to Tim, Gage and family. Another example of Access Done Right! #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek
- Access is also important when training #assistancedogs. Venues like @tanglewoodma.bsky.social go out of their way to welcome puppy raisers and trainers like Brenda with Marley from @neads-wcsd.bsky.social, allowing dogs to gain valuable experience. Thank you! #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek
- A warm welcome for an assistance dog at the most significant moments in life is vital. Here is Lowra from ADI member www.os-mose.be with a wonderful story of how her dog Gaia helped her at the birth of her first child. #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek #Paws4Access
- Kristen & @FreedomSvcDogs Boogie show what #AccessDoneRight looks like—and express gratitude to the restaurants that make them feel welcome. #IADW2025 #PawsForAccess #LifeChangers
- We know that travel, especially by air, can pose huge problems for assistance dog users. But some airlines and airports do get it right. Here’s Marek from www.helppes.cz with his dog Rey thanking those who enable him and Rey to travel around Europe. #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek
- When Christina had to go into hospital, her assistance dog Frigga went with her. Just another example of the difference pawsitive access makes. Frigga was trained by our member servicehunde.dk #IADW2025 #lifechangers
- Shopping malls can be great training places for #assistancedogs like Lily from www.candocanines.org. Here’s a shoutout to www.ridgedalecenter.com in Minnesota who are a great example of positive access for assistance dogs and their handlers. Thank you! #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek
- It’s #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek and we want to highlight those places that welcome #assistancedogs and share pawsitive access stories with you! First up it’s traffordcentre.co.uk. Thank you for being so welcoming to Anne and Dave! @hearingdogs.org.uk
- Following on from our Blog about young trainers, we just had to share this from our member helppes.cz. They have many young clients, including young children, and also involve the children of their employees and volunteers in dog training. Here's Stela showing how it's done!
- Check out our latest Blog which looks at how young people can play a valuable role helping train #assistancedogs. It's beneficial for assistance dogs in training, the junior trainers, and assistance dog organizations themselves. Red more here: assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/07...
- Transportation poses significant challenges for assistance dog handlers.56% of respondents globally experienced refusals in taxis or rideshares. Guide dog handlers reported even higher refusal rates at 63%. assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-… #Paws4Access
- "Handlers frequently need to verify or justify their assistance dogs...people with invisible disabilities face additional pressure to justify the legitimacy of their assistance dog" Read our report: assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-… #Paws4Access #AccessMatters
- "The emotional toll on assistance dog users is considerable, leading to feelings of exclusion, anxiety, & frustration. This is exacerbated by the need to continually advocate for their rights before receiving equal treatment" assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-…
- 65% of assistance dog users in our report faced skepticism due to the rising number of fake #assistancedogs? This adds to the emotional burden and frustration experienced by handlers. Read the full report here: assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-…
- Being denied access hurts more than plans. It hurts dignity. 1 in 2 assistance dog users face public access refusals. It’s time for global change. Read the report: assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/paws-for-… #Paws4Access #AccessMatters @ADIintl @IGDFDogs
- Our #Paws4Access report (with www.igdf.org.uk/) highlights the global discrimination faced by assistance dog users. We call on: Governments to enforce legal protections Businesses to educate staff Communities to stand up for inclusion assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/06...
- Embrace Pet Insurance is ADI’s newest Corporate Partner! Embrace Pet Insurance is offering a minimum 10% discount to ADI members organizations’ graduates, staff, and volunteers in the United States. See website for details: www.embracepetinsurance.com. Welcome and huge thanks!
- Our latest Blog looks at our affiliated partner courthousedogs.org: These dogs - all graduates from ADI accredited organizations - accompany individuals through the legal process, providing a calming influence. Read more here: assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/05... #lifechangers
- It's #NationalEpilepsyWeek for our UK members. Organisations such as supportdogs.org.uk train dogs like Cobble to provide a 100% reliable warning up to 1 hour in advance of an oncoming seizure. This gives time for their owner to find a place of safety and privacy. #lifechangers
- Could you recognise your own dog if you were blindfolded? What about if you are a dog trainer and train several different dogs? We love how well the trainers from ADI member @americasvetdogs.bsky.social know their dogs! Check out this great video! #lifechangers #assistancedogs
- Please welcome @sokidsJP, an ADI Affiliated Partner, which provides support for children in Japan with cancer and other serious illnesses. Shine On! Kids unique model uses specially trained facility dogs paired with clinician handlers: sokids.org Welcome to ADI!
- It's #InternationalGuideDogDay! Thank you to all our members and colleagues who work so hard to train life-changing #guidedogs. In June, together with igdf.org.uk, we'll be sharing the results of our joint survey showing the challenges assistance dog users still face.
- "Not every dog that steps into training will be matched with a client and graduate, but that doesn’t mean that they cannot make an impact in some other way." Find out all about career-change dogs in our latest Blog from ADI member dogguides.com assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/04...
- To all our members, friends and followers who are celebrating today, we wish you all a #HappyEaster! #assistancedogs #lifechangers #servicedogs #easter #easter2025
- Travelling from one country to another is something many of us take for granted - but for those travelling with #assistancedogs it's not always straightforward. Why not check out all the useful information on our website?: assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/travel-re…
- Have a listen to this great podcast on @VARadioNetwork, featuring our Executive Director, Chris. In it she talks about all things ADI, our members, our standards and much more! #assistancedogs #lifechangers #servicedogs omny.fm/shows/seeing...
- One of the questions we get asked most often, is: "Can you certify my dog so it can travel with me by air?" You can find the answer to this and more questions here: assistancedogsinternational.org/resources/tr... Be aware - it will take at least 6 months of training if one of our members can help!
- The second part of our puppy Blog looks at the types of socialization activities to help older puppies reach their full potential as #assistancedogs: assistancedogsinternational.org/blog/2025/03/31/gen… .
- A great article in the @nytimes.com on the shortage of volunteers to help raise puppies. If you're inspired to volunteer after reading, get in touch! nytimes.com/2025/03/27/well/ser…
- It takes A LOT of work for an organisation to meet our exceptionally high standards and become accredited by ADI. Once accredited, all our members have to undergo the same rigorous process every 5 years. We celebrated those recently (re)accredited at Conference. Congratulations!
- It was great to catch up with some of our members at @Crufts today. It's always good to show the world what these incredible #assistancedogs can do! With dogsforgood.org @supportdogsuk.bsky.social @hearingdogs.org.uk medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk and AdamHenson #lifechangers
- Last night's banquet was an opportunity to congratulate some of our members who had passed their accreditation or re-accreditation, and to celebrate the achievements of our amazing Executive Director who is retiring later this year. #ADITogether #assistancedogs #lifechangers
- That's it! Our 2025 conference is over. A very special thanks to our hosts canine.org, and to all our sponsors, committees, staff and attendees. You've all helped us to Inspire, Impact, Innovate. See you at our next conference in 2027 in the UK dogsforgood.org! #ADITogether
- It's time to bring conference to a close. Don't miss our closing speaker Paul Callahan and his assistance dog Newsome, trained by @canineorg. Paul says "With Newsome at my side 24 hours a day, life is much more effective and enjoyable". #ADITogether #lifechangers
- Nearly time for our final breakout sessions. Do you want to learn how to deal with behavior problems in dogs? Or how to develop a care plan? Or do you want to find out more about the client journey? We’ve got it all covered! #ADITogether #lifechangers
- Last day of #ADITogether 2025! There's still time for some great Breakout Sessions - this morning you can find out about levering technology to boost your operations, or you could join a practical TAGteach® session, or go to a BCL workshop intro presentation. #ADITogether
- It's banquet time! We're delighted to welcome Kearria Freed with her assistance dog Darling, trained by @canineorg, as our Banquet Speaker. Kearria says "Darling provides assistance in my life in multiple areas...I can live an independent life with a disability." #ADITogether
- One of the stars of the show (if you can spot him) - the completely fabulous assistance dog Peter! #ADITogether #lifechangers
- Inspire, Impact, Innovate - that's the theme f this year's conference, And that is exactly what our members do. This was one of the final breakout sessions of today, all about how to raise puppies in a virtual world, with ADI member dogsinc.org #ADITogether
